Towards better geriatric care at the level of primary health care – findings from the evaluation study.  Support of continuous education system of medical personnel in the field of geriatric care

Demographic and epidemiological changes, especially the lengthening of human lifespan, influence shape and nature of the needs of society, which can and should be satisfied within the area of operations assigned to social policy, particularly health policy being one of so-called public policies. Public policies make for ordering public tasks – ranging from its design, implementation and results evaluation. Usually they are in correspondence with identified social issues, for solution of which an intervention at the state level is necessary. One of social issues requiring an urgent solution is creating system of support for older people enabling them to live with dignity in their current living environment. As a result of identified deficits in this area, public debate in Poland was initiated regarding creating policies for people aged 60+, which final result was preparation of the assumptions of the long-term Senior Policy in Poland for the period 2014–2020. Guidelines of this document as one of the important areas of supporting aged 60+ indicate creating conditions for maintain good health and autonomy for as long as possible. The programme document 2.1.1, under priority 1 for creating of systemic solutions allowing development of medical services for the elderly population, as main objectives to be achieved states: (1) the development of geriatrics as a medical specialty, (2) preparation and professional development of medical staff towards holistic and comprehensive health care for an elderly patients, and (3) the promotion and development of outpatient and geriatric care in Poland. In order to meet the demand for stimulating activities aimed at strengthening resources enabling wider access to health services for the elderly, The Ministry of Health (Department of Nurses and Midwives) in partnership with the Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education in Warsaw in the period from 1^st of January 2012 until 30^th of June 2015 develop and execute the project “Support of continuous education system of medical personnel in the field of geriatric care” funded by the European Social Fund under the Operational Programme Human Capital. The aim of the project is to improve care directed at the elderly in Poland by improving the competence of medical personnel in the field of geriatric care. The added value of the project was carrying out vast survey among experts regarding their preferences in terms of organisational shape of comprehensive care of the elderly at the level of primary health care.

Demographic and epidemiological changes, especially the lengthening of human lifespan, influence shape and nature of the needs of society, which can and should be satisfied within the area of operations assigned to social policy, particularly health policy being one of so-called public policies. Public policies make for ordering public tasks – ranging from its design, implementation and results evaluation. Usually they are in correspondence with identified social issues, for solution of which an intervention at the state level is necessary. One of social issues requiring an urgent solution is creating system of support for older people enabling them to live with dignity in their current living environment. As a result of identified deficits in this area, public debate in Poland was initiated regarding creating policies for people aged 60+, which final result was preparation of the assumptions of the long-term Senior Policy in Poland for the period 2014–2020. Guidelines of this document as one of the important areas of supporting aged 60+ indicate creating conditions for maintain good health and autonomy for as long as possible. The programme document 2.1.1, under priority 1 for creating of systemic solutions allowing development of medical services for the elderly population, as main objectives to be achieved states: (1) the development of geriatrics as a medical specialty, (2) preparation and professional development of medical staff towards holistic and comprehensive health care for an elderly patients, and (3) the promotion and development of outpatient and geriatric care in Poland. In order to meet the demand for stimulating activities aimed at strengthening resources enabling wider access to health services for the elderly, The Ministry of Health (Department of Nurses and Midwives) in partnership with the Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education in Warsaw in the period from 1^st of January 2012 until 30^th of June 2015 develop and execute the project “Support of continuous education system of medical personnel in the field of geriatric care” funded by the European Social Fund under the Operational Programme Human Capital. The aim of the project is to improve care directed at the elderly in Poland by improving the competence of medical personnel in the field of geriatric care. The added value of the project was carrying out vast survey among experts regarding their preferences in terms of organisational shape of comprehensive care of the elderly at the level of primary health care.